Loved this book so much. Completely gripping, and I loved the story of the two sisters. I also thought the ending was perfect. Shared in my newsletter.

This story was captivating and I liked how you had the viewpoint of the two sisters. The ending was good too - did not disappoint at all. This would make a great tv/film.

Thank you to NetGalley & publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for honest review.

This story of two sisters and a plane crash didn’t really work for me. I couldn’t empathise with either of the sisters, though having alternating chapters from two characters was good. I wouldn’t recommend reading this, unfortunately.

The Castaways is one of those books that hooks you from the very beginning and you can’t help but devour chapter after chapter.

A secret beach and the holiday of a lifetime for sisters Lori and Erin? Jealous of their opportunity? Well when you read this you might not feel the same way.

It’s gripping and addictive with twists and turns galore as you turn the pages. Written part in the past and part in the present, the plot flows well and grabs you by the hand as you join the sisters on their journey.

I can highly recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins and the author for the chance to review.

Oh this was so good a twisty tale told as a two hander between two sisters Erin and Lori - both go on holiday together but only one ends up on the short flight over to an Island off Fiji - that in itself is the first mystery.

Then the plane crashes with Lori on board - two years on and Erin is still grieving for her sister and is in limbo, she has unanswered questions...then something bizarre happens which sees Erin heading back to Fiji to uncover the truth of what happened on the plane that day.

This was a great read, definitely a 'just one more chapter' then you've rad another ten chapters. What I loved the most was although I suspected somethings (no spoilers) I still had no clue how the author was going to get us to certain points.

Loved it and would highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review, this is my honest opinion.

I didn't know much about this book before I read it. The synopsis was very short. I'm pleased about that though as it meant I was surprised at what happened. Obviously there were castaways but beyond that I won't tell you too much.

Sisters Erin and Lori go on holiday, something goes wrong, they learn a lot about themselves. I had an idea of how it might end but the author made me doubt myself at various points.

I just wanted to keep reading one more chapter, one more. I really wanted to know what happened next. I think it'd make a great TV series as well.

plane crash island books are right up my street despute how much they terrify me but i love seeing how people cope and interact in those scenarios, the unlikely allies and romances that spring up

this one was interesting bc it follows two sisters, one who was crashed on the island and one who missed the plane and has grieved for two years. it follows both timelines as you try and piece together what happened and why it feels more than a random accident

didn't love this one! i liked the concept but i couldn't really connect to the characters or feel their pain. i loved the descriptions of the setting and the imagery used as well as the sister's bond

4.6 stars

Thank you, Harper Collins, Lucy Clarke and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of “The Castaways” in exchange for an honest review.

This book is told through the perspective of two sisters: Lori and Erin. They are extremely close, and hang on to each other through everything in life. Lori’s life is shattered when she finds out her husband is leaving her for his pregnant girlfriend and decides to treat herself to a birthday getaway. She asks Erin to go with her to Fiji, all expenses paid as she feels she needs her sister for the emotional support.

The night before their flight leaves for their final destination, the sisters have a fight. Erin misses the flight and as regret sets in she sees the news that the plane she was supposed to be in, the plane her sister took, has vanished without a trace.

The book alternates between the sisters and let us know the impact this accident had on both. Erin never gave up looking for her sister, her narrative takes us on her search for her sister 2 years after the accident. Lori’s POV is set right after the accident, and through her, we find out exactly what happened to all 7 people who boarded that flight.

This book’s pacing was amazing and I really appreciate Clarke’s choice of focusing on the emotional consequences of the accident to Erin and Lori, and through them get a glimpse of the overall picture and other people involved. I feel, this book would have lost a lot of its strength if we had had more PoV’s. This choice allowed Clarke to take us on a gripping and beautifully written story of how in the sight of adversity, we are responsible for our choices and their consequences. She also makes a wonderful job in sharing with us how powerful bonds can shape us and give us hope and strength when we feel like giving up.

I adored this book and really think this is “Lost” done right.

Lorin and sister Erin lost their mother at an early age,. They have always been close to one another living together after Lorin found out her husband had been cheating on her.

Lorin books a luxury trip to Fiji for the pair of them, but the night before they are due to fly, they get into a terrible argument and Lorin ends up boarding the plane alone.

The plane goes missing and two years later Erin a journalist is still trying to find out what happened on that fateful day. She finds out that Mike the pilot has been found alive in Fiji living under an alias!!

The story alternates between the past and the present as we discover why the two sisters were not on the flight together and what happened to the plane and its passengers.

A book that just screamed out to me to be read!! As the story unfolds I found myself holding my breath desperately guessing how this wonderful story would end!!

I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

A tale of two sisters Lori and Erin..Lori is missing presumed dead in a plane crash en route to Fiji and Erin was supposed to have gone too is on a mission to find out the truth and what happened to her sister.
Felt I should have enjoyed this more than I did... somehow I just didn't get in to it it and found the whole scenario s little far fetched. However it does keep you guessing and it was well written from the viewpoint of each sister. Was pleased to have persevered and got to the end of it..but sadly not for me.

This is a gripping thriller told from the points of view of two sisters, Lori and Erin. They were both supposed to go on a relaxing holiday to a resort island off Fiji. After a blazing row, only one sister goes. The other is left to pick up the pieces when the plane disappears.
Everything changes when the pilot suddenly appears on Fiji. He has been hiding in plain sight for two years under an assumed name. Erin needs to find out what happened to her sister so goes to Fiji to find answers. Erin will do anything to find out the truth.

Wow! What a rollercoaster this book has taken me on! I haven't been able to put this one down, nor have I wanted to.

Clarke gives us two different main voices in this book. Sisters Lori and Erin, both likeable characters that as a reader you do feel able to relate to. The events of this book will make you gasp, keep you on the edge of your seat and make you constantly guess.

This is a book, I've found myself thinking about when not reading. I've found myself completely captivated and addicted to this book.

This is completely unique to anything I've read previously and I've really been pulled into this one. Clarke is a new author for me and hasn't disappointed, I've already added many of this author's other books to my TBR.

I have no negatives that I can say for this book, the plot is unique and unlike anything I've read previously. The characters are likeable and as a reader I've found myself craving more of their stories.

I adore the cover of this book, it is inviting, intriguing and makes you want to devour page after page.

This book had caught my eye just from the cover alone and attending the Harper Collins spring fiction showcase really raised the intrigue for this book. It definitely hasn't disappointed.

This is the book that has converted me as a fan of this author. This is a fantastic read and one that I absolutely recommend. A definite five star read.

When Lori's husband Pete leaves her for another woman she goes to live with her sister Erin. They are orphans and very close but somehow they're not getting on. On impulse, Lori buys a holiday to Fiji for them both and it is in Fiji that the story starts with Lori boarding a small plane alone as she has fallen out with Erin. The plane crashes and the rest of the story is from both their points of view as Lori struggles to survive and Erin vows to find out what happened.

I was never convinced by this story. It's very slow moving which isn't a problem when characters are engaging but Lori and Erin are not. I found I didn't care what happened to them and was relieved when the story ended. The ending didn't quite gel with me and left many unanswered questions.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was the one of those books that you can't help racing through but at the same time don't want to end. The unique plot and dual timelines had me totally gripped and invested in the castaways' fates from start to finish. The descriptions of events and the island setting are so vivid and frighteningly realistic that they'll invade your thoughts and dreams, particularly if you are a nervous flyer. I loved the ending, which felt very apt for the character Erin and was the one I was rooting for from early on. My only criticism is that I really wanted more of Mike to better understand his actions. The cover blurb really doesn't do this justice.

The Castaways by Lucy Clarke is an exceptional book and ,so far,my favourite book of 2021.

Sisters Erin and Lori decide on a once in a lifetime holiday at a small resort on Limaji, one of Fiji's many small islands. After landing in Fiji they have an overnight stopover before leaving Nadi airport for Limaji, a flight that Erin doesn't make. While an increasingly worried Lori waits she looks around her at the other passengers, seeing some very strange behaviour. The flight leaves without Erin but never arrives at Limaji,disappearing from radar screens 8 minutes after takeoff.Intense searches fail to find any trace of the plane and it's assumed no-one has survived.
Back in Britain Erin,a reporter, obsessively investigates every aspect of the disappearance herself then the discovery that someone on the plane has reappeared has her rushing back to Fiji to investigate.
I don't like to give spoilers but the title of the book does give a very strong hint about where the story goes. It follows both Erin's progress in the hunt for her sister's fate and what happens to Lori after the plane to Limaji takes off. This book has a little of everything,there's adventure,a cast of flawed characters with their own backstories, mystery and much else. There are some complex relationships in the tale,not least that between Erin and Lori, which plays a major part.
This is a hard book to review properly without giving anything away but I don't think anyone will be disappointed,you don't need to be a fan of any particular genre to enjoy this one. Aside from a great story the excellent characterisation and the way Lucy Clarke portrays her cast's' often quite intense emotions all make for a great read.

Well that was a roller-coaster, gobble it up, thrilling read. A small plane crashes somewhere in the Far East , some of the passengers are killed but some survive. Will rescue come in time, will it come at all? I loved it. Highly recommended @lucyclarkebooks @HarperCollinsUK

The Castaways is another page turner by Lucy Clarke. This authors passion for the sea shines through all her novels and is once again in this her latest thriller.
The sisterly bond between Erin and Lori is paramount in this story and even the tragic event of a plane crash cannot lessen their love it just strengthens it. Survival on a deserted Island is always going to be tough but with trust among the group of strangers almost non-existent, nerves and emotions run high. Being rescued is the only thing that keeps most of them going. Set in the exotic locations of Fiji and one of its undiscovered islands had me longing for a much needed beach holiday in the sun. This gripping mystery is unpredictable and addictive, just what is needed in this genre of book. It is narrated between the two sisters and in two timelines. It is well written with some characters I liked and some I hated.
My thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins for the ARC. I would not hesitate in recommending this book.

I found this to be a slow paced read. Told in points of view of two sisters it was easy to follow, had a good storyline and a few twists within the story but nothing which gave me a wow moment. Hence the three stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The cover and title is the most revealing aspect of the latest crime thriller from Lucy Clarke given that the synopsis is so brief and vague. Covers are what attract me to a book initially and this one spoke volumes, enticing me in with thoughts of far flung idyllic destinations where all you need to concern yourself with is where the next cocktail is coming from! So irrespective of not knowing what to expect I chose to dive straight into what I’d pronounce as a deliciously moreish storyline;it’s one that invites the reader to devour every word with relish and in my case haste as realisation dawned that this is one holiday destination you’d be wise to steer clear of.

Lucy Clarke’s writing is exquisitely atmospheric from start to finish, the air rife with tension and a sense of inexplicable fear as Lori Holme is preparing to board a plane from mainland Fiji to a remote island in the archipelago. Expecting to board the flight with her sister Erin, on another leg of their joint holiday, Lori’s uneasiness is palpable given the non appearance of her sister. Where is she and what has delayed her? With only seven passengers booked on this flight, Lori’s attention is drawn to her fellow passengers in the departure lounge, offering her a brief distraction from worrying as to Erin’s whereabouts. However, behaviour by certain individuals only seems to increase her anxiety, her reluctance to leave Erin behind growing by the minute. It is this initial scenario that filled me with foreboding, unable to shake the premonition that disaster was about to strike, inwardly screaming at Lori not to leave without her sister. It makes you wonder if the errant Erin is in possession of a crystal ball that day since it later transpires flight FJ209 never reaches its destination with the pilot and passengers presumed dead. And that folks is as much of the storyline I’ll reveal, the rest is under wraps for the sake of your own enjoyment.

Frustratingly whilst I choose to remain tongue tied, loathe to reveal too many crucial details pertaining to the plot, The Castaways is one seriously superb crime thriller that ticks all the boxes in terms of atmosphere, characterisation and the execution of a few unexpected surprises. Although I worry I won’t be able to convey the sheer brilliance of this storyline I’ll let you into a small secret. You wouldn’t want to be in either Lori or Erin’s shoes. The intense heat, the remoteness and inaccessibility of these islands detract from the obvious beauty of the landscape which can be as hostile as it can be inviting.

As a journalist Erin is best placed to leave no stone unturned as she seeks to unearth the truth surrounding what caused flight FJ209 to disappear, a task undertaken over the course of two years and beyond. With no plane wreckage or bodies ever recovered it’s as if Erin refuses to believe her sister is dead. The tendrils of their sisterly bond cling possessively to Erin, a lost soul without Lori, whose dissatisfaction with life prevents her from moving forward. It’s Erin’s survivor’s guilt that is particularly striking. Acting like a noose around her neck, memories of her last conversation with Lori continue to torment and torture her every waking moment yet it is this basic human instinct for survival that lies at the heart of this crime thriller. We hear from Erin in the present day, details emerging of the sisters close relationship, illustrating their individual personalities, strengths and weaknesses, providing a clear picture of both women’s characters. Prior to this tragedy, Lori and Erin have already survived so much, the loss of both parents and in Lori’s case the breakdown of her childless marriage so for Erin to survive the loss of her sister, allowing the last fragments of their relationship to dissipate is virtually unthinkable. Really this is a novel packed with raw human emotion, visceral and heartbreakingly sad in places. Love mingles with loss and hope mingles with despair and fear as the author imagines the kind of behaviour individuals are capable of when faced with extreme circumstances. Above all you may find yourself asking this question alongside Lori in her final terrifying moments; have I led the life I’ve wanted to, have I fulfilled my hopes and dreams or did the world have more to offer me?

The characterisation in this novel is to die for (pun intended!) with everyone drawn to perfection in accordance with their given roles. Yet it is the love that exists between Lori and Erin that grabs you by the throat, a love that cannot be extinguished. Other events transpire which serve to further prove that love is worth fighting for, even if you have to resort to uncharacteristic behaviour to do so. BRILLIANT and a satisfyingly addictive read fully justifying a 5 star rating. Just a word of warning. If you’re of a nervous disposition maybe don’t read this just before you’re due to fly! Probably best enjoyed with your feet firmly planted on terra firma. The Castaways is one of those thrillers that has bestseller written all over it and I recommend without hesitation. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

The Castaways is an original thriller perfect for fans of the tv show Lost. Erin is close to her sister Lori, so when Lori gets lost in a plane crash going on a trip they were supposed to go on together, Erin is determined to find out what really happened. The story is filled with plenty of twists and suspense. If you’re looking for an unpredictable thriller, this is the one for you!